258 VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. chap. x. 



his severity as a soldier, I was always impressed with the 

 gentleness of his manners and apparent amiableness of his 

 disposition, as well as mth the strength of his social affections. 

 He had paid much attention to the education of his children, 

 to whom he always appeared strongly attached. When he 

 applied to me during my former visit to take his likeness, he 

 stipulated, before he would allow me to take a portrait of him- 

 self singly, that I should include him and his children in the 

 same picture ; and he himself arranged the group before the 

 camera, causing his eldest son, a fine youth about seventeen 

 years of age, to stand at his right hand, then taking a younger 

 child on each knee, and causing another to stand between 

 them. Nothing but the illness of his wife at the time pre- 

 vented her being, as he had earnestly desired, included in 

 the family picture. 



He was in health and vigour when I left, but had gone 

 subsequently to his own land in the interior, and had there 

 been seized with the small-pox. As soon as this was known, 

 he had, according to the custom of the country, been removed 

 from the habitations of men and lodged in a temporary 

 dwelling, where he soon died. Some of the members of his 

 family afterwards anxiously inquired if I had any copies of 

 his likeness, especially the family group. I had only one, 

 and this I reserved for his eldest son, who was then in the 

 interior ; but I told them I thought I had the negative at 

 home, and if so I would send them some copies after my 

 return, a promise which I hope to fulfil. 



On the 17th, four days after my arrival, a native somewhat 

 past middle age came to my house, and, addressing me in 

 English, said he was guide and interpreter for travellers, and 

 had been sent by the prince to conduct Mr. Cameron and 

 myself to the capital. He afterwards told me that when a 

 youth he had gone to the Cape of Grood Hope, where he had 

 served a number of years in the Cape corps, and had also been 



